Transparent & Criteria-Based

Our Review Methodology

Every score on Trusted Scorecard is derived from a documented, weighted formula — not gut feel, not advertiser budgets. Here is exactly how we do it.

Why We Built a Different Kind of Review Site

Most review sites are built around SEO traffic and affiliate optimization. The products that rank highest are often the ones with the most generous commission structures — not necessarily the best products. We built Trusted Scorecard to break that pattern.

Our approach is simple: define the criteria that actually matter to consumers, weight each criterion based on real-world importance, test every product against those criteria, and publish the resulting scores — regardless of where they land. If a high-commission product earns a 7.2, we publish a 7.2.

We re-evaluate all reviews quarterly to account for pricing changes, feature updates, and shifts in the competitive landscape. Review dates are displayed prominently on every page so you always know how fresh the information is.

How We Select Products to Review

We do not review every product in a category — only those that meet all three of the following criteria:

Market Share

The product must be used by a meaningful portion of the target audience. Niche or obscure tools are excluded unless they serve a specific underserved use case.

User Demand

We prioritize products our readers are actively researching. Search data, community discussions, and reader feedback all factor into our inclusion decisions.

Availability

The product must be available for direct purchase or sign-up in the United States. Beta-only or invite-only products are excluded.

Our Testing Process

Initial Research

We identify products with meaningful market share, active user bases, and sufficient public information to evaluate fairly. We set up accounts and gather baseline data.

Hands-On Testing

Every product is actively used by our category specialist. We complete onboarding, exercise core features, interact with customer support, and simulate real user scenarios.

Scoring

Each product is scored against our published criteria using a weighted formula. Scores are calculated independently before any comparison to competing products.

Peer Review

Draft scores and review text are reviewed by a second editor for accuracy, fairness, and consistency with past reviews in the same category.

Publication

Once approved, reviews are published with full methodology disclosure. The review date is displayed prominently on each page.

Our Rating Scale

All scores are on a 1–10 scale, calculated by applying each criterion's weight to its sub-score and summing the results. Below is how we interpret the final numbers:

Score Range	Rating	What It Means
9.0+	Exceptional	Best-in-class. Recommended without reservation.
8.5–8.9	Excellent	Top-tier product. Minor weaknesses don't detract meaningfully.
8.0–8.4	Very Good	Strong performer. Suitable for most use cases.
7.5–7.9	Good	Above average. Worthwhile for the right buyer.
7.0–7.4	Decent	Meets basic needs. Notable trade-offs vs. top picks.

Category Scoring Breakdowns

Different categories call for different criteria. Here is the exact weighting we use for each.

Identity Theft Protection

Criteria	Weight	What We Evaluate
Identity Monitoring	30%	Breadth and speed of monitoring: SSN, dark web, financial accounts, public records, and real-time alert delivery.
Credit Monitoring	25%	Number of bureaus monitored, alert speed, credit score tracking frequency, and credit lock/freeze capabilities.
Digital Security	15%	Bundled VPN, antivirus, password manager quality. We use AV-TEST scores and independent security lab results.
Insurance & Recovery	15%	Insurance coverage amount, claim process, U.S.-based fraud specialists availability, and resolution support quality.
Value & Pricing	15%	Cost relative to features included, renewal pricing transparency, free trial availability, and money-back guarantee terms.

LLC Formation Services

Criteria	Weight	What We Evaluate
Ease of Use	25%	Quality of the online formation wizard, checkout transparency, dashboard usability, and how clearly the service explains each step of the LLC process.
Value & Pricing	25%	Base formation cost, what's included free vs. add-on, registered agent pricing, renewal costs, and total cost of ownership over the first two years.
Features Included	20%	Operating agreement, EIN filing, registered agent, compliance alerts, annual report filing, and any additional tools like banking or branding included in base plans.
Customer Support	15%	Support channel availability (phone, chat, email), response time, business hours, quality of answers to LLC-specific questions, and access to legal professionals.
Speed of Filing	15%	Standard processing time, expedited and rush options available, accuracy of estimated timelines, and how quickly documents are delivered after state approval.

Online Therapy

Criteria	Weight	What We Evaluate
Therapist Quality	30%	Licensing standards, credential verification, therapist-to-client ratios, specialization availability, and clinical supervision practices.
Ease of Use	20%	Onboarding flow, app design, scheduling flexibility, session reliability, and overall user experience across devices.
Value & Pricing	20%	Weekly cost relative to features, financial aid availability, insurance acceptance, FSA/HSA eligibility, and pricing transparency.
Communication Options	15%	Availability of video, phone, live chat, and async messaging. Quality of between-session communication and therapist response times.
Insurance & Coverage	15%	Number of insurance partners, EAP integrations, FSA/HSA acceptance, and ease of verifying and using insurance benefits.

Website Builders

Criteria	Weight	What We Evaluate
Ease of Use	30%	How quickly a non-technical user can build and publish a site. Editor intuitiveness, onboarding quality, AI assistance, and time from signup to live website.
Design Quality	20%	Template aesthetics, mobile responsiveness, typography, layout options, and the overall visual quality of sites built on the platform.
Features & Flexibility	20%	Built-in features, app/plugin ecosystem, ecommerce capabilities, blogging tools, SEO features, and ability to customize beyond templates.
Value & Pricing	15%	Cost relative to features, free plan availability, renewal pricing transparency, transaction fees, and what's included vs. locked behind upgrades.
Performance & SEO	15%	Page load speed, Core Web Vitals scores, SEO tools, clean URL structures, mobile performance, and server uptime reliability.

Update Schedule

All reviews are re-evaluated quarterly — typically in March, June, September, and December. When a product makes a significant pricing or feature change between scheduled reviews, we update that product's entry within 30 days of the change being confirmed. The “Last Reviewed” date on each review reflects the most recent evaluation date.

Editorial Independence Statement

Trusted Scorecard operates with complete editorial independence from its commercial partners. No company can purchase a higher ranking, a more favorable review, or placement in our top-picks sections. Affiliate relationships are disclosed on every page, but they do not influence scores.

If you believe a review contains an error or conflict of interest, please contact us. We take corrections seriously and publish amendments promptly. Learn more about our team on our About page.